MAPLE, 255 



and his dame, with their children and young neighbours, 

 each carrying bunches of flowers. Older people came 

 in their holiday dresses, some with baskets containing 

 cakes, others tea and sugar, with which the farmer and 

 his wife had plentifully supplied them, and joyfully did 

 they rest awhile on the greensward, while young men 

 gathered sticks, and a bright fire having been kindled, 

 the kettle sent up its bubbling steam. 



When this was ended, and few of the piled-up cakes 

 remained; when, also, the young children had emptied 

 their cans, and rinsed them at the old stone trough, into 

 which rushed a full stream, tiny hands joyfully held up the 

 small cans, and bright eyes looked anxiously to the stem 

 of the tall tree, while the farmer warily cut an incision in 

 the bark. 



What joy, when a sweet watery juice began to trickle, 

 and the farmer filled one small cup, then another, till all 

 were satisfied, and a portion sent to the older people, who 

 were contentedly looking on from the grassy slope where 



